NFL reinstates Josh Gordon after being suspended indefinitely last season

By Mark Daniels/@MarkDanielsPJ

Saturday

Aug 17, 2019 at 5:50 PM

On Friday, the NFL announced the reinstatement of Josh Gordon on a conditional basis. The receiver will be allowed to return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, but won't be allowed to play in the Patriots ensuing preseason game.

The Patriots depth at wide receiver is about to get a whole lot better.

On Friday, the NFL announced the reinstatement of Josh Gordon on a conditional basis. The receiver will be allowed to return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, but won't be allowed to play in the Patriots ensuing preseason game.

Here are the terms of Gordon’s reinstatement, per the NFL:

“Subject to appropriate progress on clinical care and other arrangements, he will be permitted to participate in team activities including practice. Because he will not have had sufficient conditioning and practice time, however, he may attend but may not play in the Patriots' Thursday, August 22 game.”

"We are all rooting for Josh to succeed, both personally and professionally," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Everyone shares in that hope and will continue to support him to every extent possible. But as Josh acknowledged, ultimately his success is up to him."

The 28-year-old left the Patriots on Dec. 20 of last season to focus on his mental health. The NFL subsequently suspended him indefinitely for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement under the NFL drug policy. Gordon has long suffered from substance-abuse issues. An All-Pro in 2013, he missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons due to suspensions. Gordon played in five games in 2017.

Gordon was traded to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick on Sept. 17. In 11 games, he caught 40 passes for 720 yards and three touchdowns.

When Gordon left, the Patriots offense wasn’t the same. The team focused more on the run game while Tom Brady locked onto Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. In Super Bowl LIII, 228 of Brady’s 262 passing yards were to Edelman and Gronk.

The Patriots depth at tight end and receiver has been an issue all offseason.

With Gronk’s retirement, Ben Watson, 38, was lured out of retirement and has looked like the Patriots best tight end in training camp. The Pats are currently missing Matt LaCosse and Stephen Anderson due to injuries.

At receiver, it’s been worse. In joint practices with the Tennessee Titans this week, the Patriots were without Edelman, Demaryius Thomas, Cameron Meredith, N’Keal Harry, Maurice Harris and Phillip Dorsett due to injuries. That left Brady throwing to Jakobi Meyers, Braxton Berrios, Gunner Olszewski, Dontrelle Inman, Ryan Davis and Damoun Patterson.

Brady kept in touch with Gordon during the offseason. In June, the quarterback invited Gordon to one of his practice sessions held near his Massachusetts home.

“There weren’t many opportunities, but he was around and I needed someone to catch,” Brady said. “I've always enjoyed playing with him and obviously hope everything works out for him. I'm hoping the best, certainly.”

Gordon’s return should be huge for the Patriots. Of course, there’s always a risk with Gordon. The receiver will need to follow the terms of his reinstatement.

Ultimately, it’s up to him to make the most of this opportunity. If he does, both he and the Patriots will benefit.

Mark Daniels writes for the Providence Journal of GateHouse Media.

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